MAY DAY RIOTS, 2012

Hmmm… With all the civil unrest on “May Day” – May 1, 2012, it’s a wonder that no innocent people were killed. Many people were seriously injured though, by rioters throwing rocks, bricks and pipes. It seems to me that if you are really, really, really, pissed about some real or imagined thing “society” has done to you, there might be better ways to deal with it other than trashing banks, smashing retail store windows and vandalizing vehicles parked at the curb. Meanwhile, while all of this is happening, most police departments stand by, probably under orders not to do anything, unless they are getting attacked by the mob. In most cases, the so–called protestors outnumbered the police. However, the police did have batons, pepper spray, and they did have weapons. In the Seattle papers, and on various web news sources, there were photos of some of the rioters in San Francisco, and in downtown Seattle. Some of the photos showed four or five of the hooligans dressed in black, wearing masks, as they smashed windows. It is very important to note that the rioters in San Francisco wore similar clothing as that worn by the hooligans in Seattle. That is a hint of an organized event. They were “wearing their colors.” This was “organized crime” in the true sense of the term. One of the photo captions: "Protesters break windows on downtown businesses..." That prompted me to ask, shouldn’t that be “Black-clad looters and hooligans break windows on downtown businesses”...? Isn’t there a “looting law” in the states of Washington, or California? One that allows police or the National Guard to shoot looters? As a former retail store owner, I know that glass is VERY EXPENSIVE for commercial spaces. It irritates me that the looters and hooligans think that it is OK to smash windows on businesses and vehicles parked at the curb. It really irritates me to see that the S.F.P.D. and S.P.D. were virtually helpless and powerless to take any meaningful action. I do not mind people protesting something – peacefully – but not when it results in looting and hooliganism, resulting in smashed windows and valdalized vehicles... More likely than not, if this had happened in a major city in China, all of the window smashers would be dead, shot by the police. I can’t help but think that a .357 hollowpoint slug to the torso would have reduced the enthusiasm, just a tad, of each of the window smashing hooligans in San Francisco or Seattle.

BAD CHOICES = Death For Trayvon Martin

Racial issues aside - there are some glaring items about this matter. Mainly, that Mr. Zimmerman made some BIG mistakes, some very BAD CHOICES.

The first BAD CHOICE was to carry a weapon for his "duty" as part of neighborhood watch. (He was not in downtown Baghdad.)

The second BAD CHOICE was to disobey the instructions of the 911 dispatcher.

The third BAD CHOICE was to follow or pursue Mr. Martin.

The fourth BAD CHOICE was to shoot Mr. Martin. All of this points toward premeditated murder.

The doctrine of self-defense falls apart if Party A pursues Party B. It is overt aggression if the "intended victim" pursues the "intended assailant," instead of running like hell in the opposite direction. Also, the SYG law in Florida is meaningless in this matter, again because of Mr. Zimmerman’s pursuit of the victim.

Various news accounts mentioned "Mr. Zimmerman trying to get hired as a police officer, for several years."

One must ask, how far did he get in the selection process? Almost all police departments require a psychological profile of applicants suitable for interview. If Mr. Zimmerman did not pass that profile encounter, he would not be acceptable as a police officer. That means he could still get a job as a mall security guard, unless such a firm has a similar psychological screening process.

It looks like Mr. Zimmerman, apparently a cop wannabe, made a series of very bad choices. In effect, many people believe he is a moron. At the very least, he is "reasoning impaired." The truly scary part is this: more likely than not, he has a driver’s license and is registered to vote.

Now, he should pay for his mistakes. No matter how Mr. Zimmerman’s defense attorney will try to paint the picture – if you dress a donkey in frilly clothes and a hat, it still is a donkey – more likely than not, Mr. Zimmerman’s cowardice will be apparent to any jury.

As Forrest Gump said in 1994, “Stupid is as stupid does.” That defines Mr. Zimmerman to a T.

If Mr. Zimmerman had obeyed the 911 dispatcher and stayed in his vehicle, we would not be reading and hearing about this matter, and the young Mr. Martin would still be alive…

STRANGERS IN THE NIGHT, a short story.

“Strangers in the night,” exchanging glances, wondering in the night, what were the chances, of not one, but three, nuclear explosions, at the same time, in Iran?

Hmmm… Statistically, that might be about 1,999,999,999,999,999,999,999.9875 to 1.

Malarkey News reported this strange occurrence during the night. The Iranian nuclear research facilities at Natanz, Qom and Isfahan, all suffered mysterious “nuclear events.”

“Knowledgeable people within the nuclear research field speculate that there is a very remote possibility there could have been identical accidental explosions during research.

That would have required researchers to be working on the exact same thing at the exact same time, and experience the exact same accidental occurrence. However, more likely than not, the explosions originated from a yet to be determined source outside of Iran.

Meanwhile, Israel and the United States remain mum, while casting glances at France, Britain, South Africa and North Korea. The official White House spokesperson, Byron Sphinx–Waddington, said. “The United States knows nothing about this other than what the news services are reporting.”

For months, the IAEC had been warning that Iran was getting very close to developing nuclear bombs. Indeed, since March of 2011, the Iranians had been working overtime to produce nuclear weapons.

It is important to note that during that time, in June of 2011, the first news of the HHRL bomb surfaced. Igor Schwartz, the noted physicist, successfully developed the HHRL. The Heated Harmonic Resonance Laser bomb has the ability to liquefy granite, steel or cement, as it delivers its bomb. In other words, so–called “hardened sites” are no longer considered safe.

By using SMDs, Stealth Mode Drones, it was now possible to make it appear as though there had been a “nuclear accident” or any type of explosion at any site on the globe.

For many years, the leadership of Iran had professed a goal of wiping Israel off the map. Now, it looks like that might not ever be possible. The Iranian nuclear development program is in shambles.

This is Dakota Clark, reporting from aboard CVN 72, the USS Abraham Lincoln, somewhere in the Arabian Gulf.”

FLUSH RUSH... ??

News Item: Reports say the 40TH advertiser drops Rush Limbaugh.

I stopped listening to Rush Limbaugh many, many years ago.

When I first listened, I thought he had some interesting things to say. However, after listening for several weeks, I began to realize that he was full of hate or venom for women, and poor people. It was as if he truly did not care about anyone who is less fortunate than he is, as he counts his millions.

So, I stopped listening to his program when I realized that he was trying to be an entertainer, while harvesting as much cash as possible.

Remarkably, he has the #1 radio talk show in the United States, and sponsors and listeners have made Mr. Limbaugh very wealthy. What surprises me is that so many people still listen to him. He is not funny, and he is not entertaining. All he does, very well I might add, is stir up controversy.

As a Republican, some of his remarks offended me. It was as if Mr. Limbaugh was spewing official Republican Party philosophy, when that was not the case. I am somewhat conservative with financial matters, and I am a Christian; but, I am not a Republican conservative Christian. However, when the Republican Party does not officially refute his comments, that means complicit agreement.

When the “slut bomb” and “prostitute bomb” exploded on the Rush Limbaugh radio program a few days ago, and most of the news agencies began covering the matter, I could hardly believe that he would actually say such a thing. What was he thinking? Actually, he was not thinking.

More likely than not, he was speaking off the cuff. Speaking off the cuff, or randomly nattering on about something, is what gets most people into trouble.

Mr. Limbaugh is entitled to his opinions, but he does not speak for me. He needs to be more careful with his choice of words. The Republican Party should be all over Mr. Limbaugh, like flies on fresh manure – to let him know that he does not speak for the GOP.

Since the “slut bomb exploded” there has been a little more full disclosure happening.

For instance, it is very disturbing to read about the connectivity between Mr. Rush Limbaugh and Republican presidential wannabe, Mr. Willard Romney. Apparently, according to various news sources, Mr. Romney has at least some ownership in the media company that supports the Rush Limbaugh radio program. That indeed sets a different stage for, “Excellence In Broadcasting.”

To my mind, broadcasting excellence means that it is not ok to demean other people.

(Every time that I hear the name "Willard Romney," I am reminded of, Willard and His Bowling Trophies: A Perverse Mystery, a novel written in 1975 by the late Richard Brautigan. It is an interesting read, with connectivity to the present situation. Willard Mitt Romney grew up in a privileged, somewhat elite and wealthy family. Today, due to inheritance and his own efforts, he is a multi-millionaire. He has been running for POTUS for at least the last 10 years. Willard does not have anything in common with the average person; and, he has the charisma of a rutabaga = not a viable POTUS candidate. Yet, he will spend millions more in another failed attempt at POTUS.)

A day after the Limbaugh “slut bomb,” and "prostitute bomb," Piers Morgan had an interview with Kirk Cameron, the former child star of “Growing Pains.” It was both stunning and flabbergasting to learn of his extremely conservative Christian views.

Kirk Cameron actually said that if his daughter were raped, rather than suggest an abortion, he would urge her to have the unwanted baby, because all life is precious. More likely than not, he would support legislation to repeal abortions. Indeed, Mr. Cameron might actually become a growing pain.

What Mr. Limbaugh, Mr. Cameron, and other Republicans do not realize is this: Grey-haired older men should not be legislating what women can or cannot do with their bodies.

If Mr. Limbaugh or Kirk Cameron had to give birth to an unwanted baby, I am fairly sure there would be abortion on demand 24/7 every day, in every major U.S. city. Mr. Limbaugh and Mr. Cameron need to know that it is fairly easy for someone to "talk the talk," and another matter entirely to "walk the walk."

Abortion and contraception is a matter between the woman and her God - no one else, especially the Republicans and conservative Christian Bible thumpers.

Those favoring no abortions should pay into a fund to help support unwanted babies. Unwanted, unloved little ones often grow up to be miscreants, criminals, and very familiar with the criminal justice system. We all end up paying for that.

I wonder exactly how many of Limbaugh’s sponsors made contact with him and gave him an ultimatum, apologize or lose our support…

With $$MILLIONS at stake, Mr. Limbaugh probably saw the light at the end of the tunnel fairly quickly, and forced him to issue an "apology" for his bad choice of words. That result was a very disingenuous apology. That is making even more people wonder WHAT THE FONGONUS is the matter with him, and if they should Flush Rush.

MAKE RECREATIONAL DRUGS LEGAL - TO GET RID OF CRIME.

I used to counsel incarcerated veterans. Many of them told me that it was easier for them to kick heroin than nicotine.

Nicotine is an addictive drug. That is not my opinion, it is a fact.

Have you ever seen the photos of "meth mouth?" People who smoke meth have terrible dental and medical conditions. Here are some links that show the results of meth:
http://www.mappsd.org/Meth%20Mouth%20Photo%20Gallery.htm
http://www.mappsd.org/Progression.htm
http://www.mappsd.org/Faces%20of%20Meth-%20Static.htm

Similarly, people who smoke tobacco put themselves at risk of many medical conditions, about 13 of which can lead to death.

The government needs to do anything and everything to try to deter drug use, including nicotine, or at least try to control it. By legalizing some of the recreational drugs and have them dispensed through pharmacies, there would be more purity and less adulteration. A safer product if you will.

However, it does boil down to choice. People should have the freedom of choice to use drugs, and they should know the risks. “If you use this, it might cause addiction, and you could die from it.” That would be only a fair warning.

Cocaine in the United States is a very big problem. What costs $2,000 in Peru, costs $40,000 in Mexico, and $100,000 on the streets of cities in the U.S. By making it illegal, the U.S. is tacitly approving mob activity and murder.

By making recreational drugs legal, dispensed by prescription, and available through pharmacies, it would remove most if not all of the criminal activity.

The "War On Drugs" has been ongoing for 40 years, and the U.S. government still is not coming any where close to winning. It is well past the time to reconsider a more positive course of action. You cannot keep doing the same old thing, year after year, and expect different or better results… !!

Consider booze during prohibition, and how present day criminals profit by drugs being illegal. By making booze legal and regulating how it is made and distributed, it essentially removed organized crime from that activity. Similarly, making drugs legal would do the same thing, by removing the “middle men.”

If people want to smoke high octane, rarified and strengulated moldy goat manure, they should have the right to do so. I have the right not to participate.

PRAYING FOR RAIN ON JULY 4TH

I always know when it is getting close to July 4TH; and that is without looking at a calendar.

I can tell by the noise and the smell. In my neighborhood and surrounding community area, New Year’s Eve and July 4TH sound like a war zone, and there is an almost nauseating stench from the smoke of the fireworks.

I live in the state of Washington, where many fireworks are illegal. Things that explode, or go up into the air and explode, are illegal. Indeed, many cities have banned all fireworks, including the so–called “Safe & Sane” fireworks.

As a former firefighter, I realize there is no such thing as safe & sane fireworks.

For instance, consider how hot a cake pan is at 350 degrees, and that glass melts at about 900 degrees. The average “sparkler” burns at about 1,200 degrees, around the same temperature as a welding torch. A lit sparkler, or the hot wire of a burned sparkler, can be the cause of burns to the young and elderly.

Across the United States, each year all sorts of fireworks are the cause of many people getting injured or burned, not to mention the “accidental fires” that cause damage to grasslands, forests, businesses and homes.

According to the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association), “In 2009, fireworks caused an estimated 18,000 reported fires, including 1,300 total structure fires, 400 vehicle fires, and 16,300 outside and other fires. These fires resulted in no reported civilian deaths, 30 civilian injuries and $38 million in direct property damage. In 2009, U.S. hospital emergency rooms treated an estimated 8,800 people for fireworks related injuries; 53% of 2009 emergency room fireworks-related injuries were to the extremities and 42% were to the head.”

This translates to: There is no cure for STUPID.

Please feel free to check out this report: http://www.nfpa.org/categoryList.asp?categoryID=297&cookie%5Ftest=1

So, why is it that last year, on July 5TH, I found seven spent bottle rockets in my yard, including three on the roof of my house?

The only reason is the proximity of the nearest Tribal Lands – about two miles in the distance, where every conceivable firework known to humankind is available for sale.

There are about 32 Tribes in the state of Washington, and many of them sell fireworks. There is a website devoted to Tribal fireworks.

In case you are pining for the sounds I have been hearing every night for the past month, here ya go: http://www.indianfireworks.us/

Of course, some of the Tribes operate casinos. Once a year, they doll out some donations to agencies in the local community. Therefore, no one dares to criticize the Tribes for their fireworks sales. Each year, the Tribes must harvest MILLIONS from fireworks sales. Regardless of the County, one would never see the local police, the County Sheriff, or the State Patrol with roadblocks set up to seize illegal fireworks.

The Tribes operate with impunity, because they are a Nation within a nation. They can just about do whatever they please, and everyone else nearby just has to deal with it.

That is why I hope it rains on July 4TH – not because I am unpatriotic. I am very patriotic, but I am tired of flinching from the quarter and half sticks of dynamite, and all the racket from bottle rockets, the smoke, and the debris left in the streets.

There ought to be a law.

MY FATHER THE BULLY

I think I was about age five when I received the first beating from my father. I no longer remember what offense I might have committed to warrant such a savage attack.

He ripped off his belt; and, proceeded to thrash at me with the edge of his belt. It was an uncontrolled outburst of anger, until he ran out of steam. I had painful black and blue marks on my arms, legs, back and stomach.

I remember that all of his beatings hurt. Not only from the device he used to beat me, but by the mental hurt as well. How could a father do something like that to his son?

Maybe it was work related. If he had a bad day at work, he would look for ways to take it out on somebody else, somebody who was smaller and unable to defend himself against such an attack.

Maybe he had trouble dealing with the death of my younger sister. She died when I was three. Back in 1945, there was no grief therapy. People expressed their sorrow at such an event, and life continued.

My younger brother arrived in 1947. I could tell that our father favored my younger brother. However, even though my younger brother was “the favored one,” by the time he was three or four, he too experienced abuse. It started out as spanking, but gradually escalated to beatings. There is a distinct difference between a spanking and a beating.

Even at an early age, maybe when I was eight or ten, I knew that it was wrong for our father to administer a beating to my younger brother. If something like that happened, I would make faces and noises to draw our father’s attention toward me. That would result in him coming after me. I stepped in to take a beating for my brother countless times, and that is something forgotten by my brother. He has no recall of that ever happening.

Over the years, the belt gained a few assistants. Our father developed a range of items to inflict punishment. A rubber hose, an oversized ping–pong paddle (with holes cut into it, to make it work better as a hitting device), a three foot section of washing machine hot water hose (heavier than the cold water hose), a three foot long dried apricot twig (with the nubbers). That apricot twig was something else. It would leave welts that would hurt for days.

I now believe that our mother lived in fear of our father’s anger. She seldom did anything to intervene, probably in fear of what he would do to her. She was not the innocent bystander. If my brother and I misbehaved in any way, she would report our activity to our father. Thanks to her snitching, my brother and I had many more beatings.

However, during one particular beating, our father “lost it” when beating me. I think our mother thought he might kill me. So she grabbed the cast iron skillet and whanged him on the head with it. That frying pan rang like a church bell, and it stopped him. He suddenly stopped beating me, looked at everyone, and went into the living room to sit in a chair. It was as if he had been brought back into the present from another dimension.

My brother, who is five years younger than me, and I learned the hiding spot for our father’s instruments of torture. One by one, his items would disappear. As soon as he would replace a missing item, it would disappear if he used it. Soon, the only item remaining was his belt.

When I was in high school, I was envious of Alan, Jerry, Ralph, Joe, Don and Bruce, because they had fathers who did not beat them. At least they did not show purple welts when they took showers. I had many PE class excuses, mostly for the purpose of not taking a shower, where others would be able to see my black and blue marks. Believe me, it was very embarrassing to have to take a shower with purple bruise marks all over my legs stomach, and back.

My last beating took place when I was 18, a few months before graduation from high school. It was another unprovoked savage attack on my brother and me.

That is when I realized my father was a person, and a mean, cruel, bully. Later that evening, I approached my father and mentioned that I needed to let him know something. I told him that if he ever laid another hand on me or my brother, that I would kill him. “I will wait until you are asleep. Then, I will take a butcher knife and slit your throat.” Somehow, I got the idea that he knew that I was serious. There were no more breathings.

Within a few months, our parents divorced and our father moved out of the house to go live with another woman, who he later married. During the divorce proceedings, the judge asked my brother and me about our father beating us. Under oath, we told the truth.

Due to that testimony, our father believed we told lies about him in court, and made the choice to estrange himself from us. Apparently, he was in denial about his behavior, and actually thought or believed that he had never beaten us. He died at the age of 83, and by his choice without ever knowing his only grandchildren.

All of this was a learning experience for me. I learned how not to treat children.

I made a vow before God. If I ever got married and my wife and I had children, I would never beat them. I maintained that vow. We have a daughter and a son. Both grew up without beatings, and both are very good, responsible people today. (Yes, I did yell at them every now and then, but I never spanked them or beat them.)

Father's Day is always a day of mixed emothions for me. Mostly I am thankful that I was able to break the generational chain of violence from father to son.

Even though my father was a mean and cruel bully, he taught me how to be a better parent, by not emulating his behaviors, and for that I am very thankful.